Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-24683

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2002
Current Status: Answered by Elaine Murray on 24 April 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish state-run hotels, similar to the Spanish parador, where listed buildings could be restored to provide accommodation for tourists and where holiday itineraries could include visits to facilities such as the Summerlee Heritage Museum in Coatbridge.

Question reference: S1W-24681

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2002
Current Status: Answered by Elaine Murray on 24 April 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the facilities provided at the Summerlee Heritage Museum in Coatbridge including working trams, the reconstruction of a drift mine, the exhibition hall, the miners row cottages and the facilities and events specifically for children.

The Scottish Executive has responsibility for the national museums and galleries of Scotland, whereas responsibility for non-national museums, including Summerlee Heritage Museum, lies with local agencies i.e. local authorities. North Lanarkshire Council has overall responsibility for the Summerlee Heritage Park, Coatbridge. The Scottish Executive has therefore not given consideration to its facilities.

Question reference: S1W-24684

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2002
Current Status: Answered by Elaine Murray on 24 April 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have any plans to visit the Summerlee Heritage Museum in Coatbridge to view the facilities available there and to help market the museum.

Question reference: S1W-24680

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 24 April 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans for the tourism industry include looking at ways to market ex-industrial areas throughout Scotland such as Coatbridge.

Question reference: S1O-05036

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2002
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 18 April 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve the professional standing of those working in, or entering, all areas of the childcare sector.

Both the Childcare Strategy and the Action Plan for the Training and Development of Workers in Early Education, Childcare and Playwork set out the Executive's commitment to increasing the professional standing of the childcare workforce by supporting their training and development. The action plan has been supported with £4 million over the last two financial years, with a further £9.2 million committed for 2002-04. The Executive is also working to provide a greater range of progression routes within the early years sector, and local authorities and other providers have a wide range of options open to them when determining the structure of staffing in pre-school education and childcare. In pre-school education, this flexibility was emphasised by the publication of the Guidance on Teacher Involvement in Pre-School Education in January 2002.

Question reference: S1F-01802

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2002
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 March 2002

To ask the First Minister what action is being taken in order to ensure the adequate provision of paediatric specialists throughout Scotland.

NHS boards are responsible for deciding the number of consultants employed locally. They are best placed to determine the staff needed to meet demands in their areas. However, The Scottish Executive carry out an annual review of the Specialist Registrar establishment with the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education. The review determines the number of higher specialist training posts to be made available for each speciality to fill consultant vacancies in the future.

Question reference: S1W-23690

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the statement that it "is committed to the transfer of council housing to community ownership, both in Glasgow and throughout Scotland" in the October 2001 issue of The Key - Special Edition for Home Owners, whether the proposed transfer of housing stock in Glasgow is the blueprint for the future of public housing throughout Scotland.

Question reference: S1W-23691

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the ballot on the Glasgow housing stock transfer will be under way before the second stage consultation is completed and what measures it will take should any new information emerge from the consultation process after tenants have returned ballot papers.

Question reference: S1W-23692

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will finance training in order to address vacancies arising from construction industry shortages following the transfer of Glasgow City Council's housing stock, in light of research commissioned by the council, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Communities Scotland forecasting approximately 6,500 such vacancies.

Question reference: S1W-23694

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the forthcoming ballot on the transfer of Glasgow City Council's housing stock will include an option for tenants to indicate positively a wish to remain tenants of the council as an alternative to simply voting against the transfer.